Bracket



Sept. 28, 1943. A. L. MCCABE BRACKET Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 28, 1943. A. L. McCABE BRACKET Filed July 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 by A124 v 74/325 fifoz zzeys Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT BRACKET Anthony McCabe, Reading; Mass.

' Application July 23, 1941, Serial No. 403,700

' 3 Claims.

My invention comprises a wall or ceiling bracket or fixture arranged to hold a panel of glass or the like in such fashion that the panel can be locked in a closed position from which it can be unlocked and swung to one side or an open position. The bracket of my invention is particularly useful in conjunction 'with light fixtures having glass diffusing panels, although it is capable of other uses.

The most important object of my invention is to provide a bracket arranged to carry a panel which can be easily and automatically locked with great security and, when unlocked, can swing on an axis to permit access to objects normally concealed behind the panel. The simplicity of operation permits opening, servicing and closing of the fixture without the use of a ladder whereby the fixture can be conveniently and frequently serviced and therefore kept operating at maximum efliciency.

An important advantage of 'my invention is that the bracket can be constructed of only two pieces of material and a hinge, and can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in cross-section through a light fixture employing a bracket constructed according to my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective from the bottom of the fixture.

The fixture illustrated in the drawings comprises a sheet metal housing I2 having sloping bottom walls and adapted .to be secured to a ceiling I!) by screws M. The housing i2 contains bases l6 which support sockets l8 for fluorescent tubes or bulbs, although it will be understood that the bracket of my invention is not limited to use with fixtures for fluorescent lighting. Secured to the housing I2 by screws are brackets 23',

formed of strips of metal arranged in open.

trapezoidal form, the shorter and intermediate side 22 being secured to the housing.

Each of the brackets 29 has a hinge 24 secured to the outer side 26 and to a short piece 28 which is drilled to receive a bolt 36 adapted to secure one end of a long strip 32 to the short strip 28. The other end of the strip 32 is bent back upon itself and the extreme end is turned up to form a lip 34. The edge of a panel 33 of glass fits into the bent end of the strip 32, and the bolt 30 passes through the glass 36. It will now be seen that the glass panel 36 swings with the strip 32 around the hinge 24.

The lower end of each side wall 38 is bent inwardly to form a locking lip 40 over which the lip 34 can be engaged. The weight of the glass panel 36 exerted upon the side 26 tends'tofiex the side 26 downwardly and force the lip 34 more firmly into locking engagement with the lip 49. When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the fixture, the panel 36 is pushed upwardly toward the hinge, the side 26 flexing outwardly and permitting disengagement of the lip 34 from the lip id. Thus the lip 34 is withdrawn from engagement with the lip 1-9. Conveniently, pressure may be exerted at the end of the strip 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow 35 and the panel then is free to swing into the broken line position. To replace the panel it is merely necessary to swing it up around the hinge 2 without flexing the side 2b, whereupon the lips 34 and d0 will once again lock.

The fixture is particularly applicable to use on high ceilings, as in shops and commercial establishments, and the simple structure which has been described permits opening and closing of the fixture by means of an ordinary window opening pole. When the fixture is open the interior can be serviced from the fioor by the employment of pole or extension equipment. The'servicing includes dusting and Washing the fixtures, change of bulbs, etc., all of which can be performed from the floor and at a minimum maintenance expense. Such maintenance without the use of a, ladder permits of daily servicing whereby keeping the fixture operating at maximum eficiency, whereas fixtures which require the use of a ladder are cleaned only infrequently and therefore operate with substantially less efficiency.

It will be understoodthat there may be a plurality of brackets secured to a panel, according to the length thereof. Furthermore the bracket of my invention may be used in any installation where a swinging panel is desired. The bracket is particularly well suited for use with a glass panel since it is only necessary to provide the hole for the bolt 30. It is not necessary that the bracket shall have trapezoidal form, but its end strip 25 should be sufliciently flexible to permit the locking and unlocking functions.

Having now described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A bracket for supporting a panel, which comprises a strip of metal bent to form three sides of a trapezoid, a second strip hinged to one end of the trapezoidal strip and bent to form a lip at one end, and a lip formed in the other end of the trapezoidal strip adapted to be engaged by the lip on the end of the second strip, whereby when said bracket is mounted obliquely with the hinged end higher than said lips, the weight of the second strip forces said lips into locking engagement.

2. A bracket for supporting a panel, which comprises a pair of relatively flexible diverging arms mounted on an obliquely disposed surface,

a lip formed in the lower end of the lower arm, a third arm hinged at one end to the outer end of the upper arm, and a lip formed on the other end of said third arm cooperating with the firstmentioned lip, whereby the weight of the third arm forces said lips into locking engagement.

3. In combination, two panel supporting strips fixed in laterally aligned and spaced relation to a downwardly facing surface, each strip having two arms respectively at the two ends thereof extending outwardly from said surface, the two arms in lateral alignment at the two corresponding ends of the two strips being flexible and at an elevation higher than the other two arms, a panel carried by the strips in hinged relation to the free ends of the flexible arms, and coengaging latch means carried by the panel and the free ends of the other arms, flexing of the flexible arms permitting the weight of the panel to hold the latch means in engagement and permitting disengagement thereof.

ANTHONY L. McCABE. 

